Vehicle wheel mounting



Filed Sept. 25, 1947 INVENTOR. JAMES C. Laws A TTORNEV Patented June 27, 1950 UN [TED S TAT ES ifAT ENT: 02F FICE 2,513,032, a

VEHICLE WHEE}L MOUNTING James 0. Lewis, Detroit, Mich.

' Application September 25, 1947, Serial No. 776,14l

. 1 The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a vehicle wheel mounting. particularly but not exclusively adapted-for auto mobile or airplane wheels;

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved wheel mounting which permits the ready mounting and dismounting or" a demount- Claims. (Cl. 301-49).

able wheel from a wheel support by means which permit the ready and quickinterlockingof the Wheel provides an annular ring seat having an expansible split locking ring seated thereon for engaging said grooved flanges and locking said wheel to said wheel support.

Priorto the present invention, in 'demountable wheels employing a" split ring for interlocking the wheel and wheel support, the-split ring has been separable from the wheel when'the latter is demounted. lhe efficient operation of the split ring and the ease and simplicity by which it may be employed to lock the wheel to its wheel support depends upon insertion'of the split ring into a narrow retaining groove provided therefor by the wheel support. A frequent difficulty experienced with the separable split ring is that the latter may be easily bent when not supported in actual'app'lication on the wheel, particularly in garages where heavy tools, for example, may be carelessly or accidentally dropped on the ring, or on the highway during an emergency tire change when the ring may be accidentally stepped on or otherwise bent.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide improvements in a wheel mounting, having a demountable Wheel adapted for interlocking with its wheel support upon the application of an expansible split ring, wherein the expansible split ring is maintained in a protected operative position as an inseparable unit with the wheel, free to be selectively expanded I or contracted as desired.

Another object of the. present invention is to provide an improved wheel mounting of the character described wherein the split ring is tapered to facilitate its insertion into the retaining groove provided therefor by the wheel support.

Another object. of the present invention is to provide an improved wheel mounting wherein a; simplified locking means, including .a resilient split ring, i provided for locking: the expansible.

plit ring in it contracted wheel locking positions: Other objects of this invention will appear in r the following description and appendedclaimsfi reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference ch'aractersdesignate corresponding parts in the 'several'viewsr In the drawings:

Fig. l is essentially a side elevationof a wheel mounting embcdying'the present invention and howing the wheel mounted'on its wheel support and locked thereto by the split ring.

Fig. 2 i's'essentially a vertical section taken in the direction of the arrows along the 1ine-2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a side-elevation-of the wheel, essena; tially as shown in Fig. l, with the split ring and ring retaining brackets removed.

Fig. 4 i an enlarged fragmentary section-taken essentially in the direction'o-f thearrows along the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig.5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the lever-mechanism for expanding or contracting the split ring. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a ring retainingbracket, taken in the direction of the arrow s essentially along the:line' Ei6 of Fig. l.

Before explainingthepresent invention in de-. tail,..it is to be" understood that the invention not limited in its application to the detailsof.

cons'tructiongand .arrangementoij parts illustrated of description and not. of limitation.

A particular embodiment orthepresentinven-l tion is shown by way. of example. inthe drawings wherein a hubll, having the keyway it for locket ing the hub i with an axle shaft, providesqtha annular disceshaped-wheei support H, which latter is secured tothe outer periphery of the brakei t drum 12 by the plurality ofrivets or other scouring -n1e'ans..l3, Fig. 2*. It willbe apparent from J the following that the brake drum 12 maybe formedintegrallywith the wheel support H or maybeeliminatedientirely, otherameans being then employed to brakethe wheel;

Extending :outward, from the outerZ or wheel receivingjsidebf theywheel support H: are the pin-5,;

rality of annularly disposed ring locks l4, concentric with the wheel support II and circumferentially spaced to provide the three small lu receiving spaces l5 and the one larger space 16. An annularly disposed ring engaging flange |1 projects radially outward from each ring lock M to provide the ring receiving channel or groove |8 within the outer periphery of each ring lock M, Fig. 4. The wheel provides the tire retaining rims H, the annular channe1'20 within its outer periphery, and is reinforced by the annular web 2 I,

which latter provides the annular flange 22 suit-,

ably secured to the channel base 2|], as by welding or riveting for-example, and the offset ring seat 23 lying in the plane of the wheel perpendicularly to its axis of rotation, Fig. 2.

The offset for the ring seat 23 provides the ring retaining movement limiting shoulder 24, Fig. 4. Projected radially inward from the inner periphery of the ring seat 23 are the pluralit of spaced driving lugs 25, Fig. 3, three in the present instance,and thelarger driving lug 26. An expansible resilient split locking ring 21, tapering fromthe outer to the inner periphery thereof, Fig. 6,.and having the adjacent ends thereof extended essentially radially inward to provide the arms 28 and 29, is concentrically disposed to the wheel and seated on the ring seat 23.

Details of the extensible coupling or lever mechanism for expanding or contracting the expansible ring 21 are shown in Fig. 5 and comprise a dogleg lever having a long lever arm or link 30 and a relatively shorter arm or link 3| disposed thereto .at an obtuse angle. The free end of the short link 3| is pivotally secured at 32 to the extremity of the ring arm 28. A connecting link 33, preferably longer than the short link 3|, is pivotally secured at opposite ends at 34 and 35, re-: spectively, to the extremit of the other ring arm 29 and to the short link 3| essentially at the juncture thereof with the link 3|]. v

In the embodiment shown, it is preferred that the link 33 comprises two parallel link members, spaced above and below the ring 21, 'to permit extension of the end of the :arm 28 into the space between the parallel link members 33 when the extensible coupling is pivotally moved to the closed position, Fig. 1.

In order to prevent the ring 21 from being accidentally detached from the wheel, or its position on the ring seat 23, a ring retaining bracket is provided by each of the driving lugs 25, each ring retaining bracket having the base 36 secured to the projection of its respective driving lug 25 within the inner periphery of the ring 21, as for example by welding. An arm 31 of each ring retaining bracket extends radially outward from its base 36 toward the shoulder '24 to overlie the split ring 21, Fig. 6, and thus to limit axial movement of the ring 21 from the ring seat 23. It is preferred that each overhanging bracket arm 31 lies adjacent the outer side of the ring 21 to loosely retain the latter between itself and the seat 23, thereb permitting freedom of expansion and contraction of the ring 21, yet retaining the lat-. ter as an inseparable unit with the wheel on the ring seat 23. Accordingly, the ring 21 may not be removed from its protected position on the seat 23 and is thus protected against accidental deformation.

The wheel support I I in the embodiment shown is adapted to receive a conventional typeof automobile hub cap (not shown) which may be clampedin place by the plurality of annularly disposed hub cap retaining spring clamps 38, each by the inner side of the ring seat 23.

having the central radially outward projection 39, and the U-bend 40 at its outer extremity for concealing the sharp spring edge. A footing M of each spring clamp 38 is secured to the wheel support II by a rivet 44 and provides the inturned end 42 which projects into the opening 43 provided therefor in th wheel support II to prevent pivotal movement of the spring '38 about its fastening 44.

From the construction shown, it is apparent that the wheel of the present invention ma be economically manufactured by slightly reforming :a conventional wheel blank. For example the conventional wheelprovides a disc or spoke structurearound the nave thereof and which is detachably secured to a wheel support carried by a hub or axle. In the present instance, the central disc or spoke portion of the wheel is removed, leaving only the annular ring seat 23 and projecting driving lugs 25 and 25. At the same time, themovementlimiting shoulder 26 is distinctly formed ,to provide an abutment for limiting the expansion of the split ring 21.

In application of the mounting, the lever operated linkage for expanding the ring 21 is moved to the expanded position shown in Fig. 5. The wheel is then mounted concentrically with the hub l0 and adjacent the outer wheel receiving side of the wheel support I, which is abutted mounted position, the ring seat 23 fits concentrically around the ring locks I l, and the driving lugs 25 and 26 fit Within their respective lug receiving spaces I5 and I S provided between the separate locks It. The lever 30 is then moved to the contracted position, Fig. 1, to contract the ring 21 within the ring receiving groove I B.

Entry of the ring 21 into the annular groove I8 is facilitated by the radial chamfer thereof, a

which latter causes the ring seat 23 to be tightly wedged against the abutting outer side of the wheel support I! so as to securely clam the wheel and-wheel support lL-together essentially as an integral unit. The driving flanges 25 and 26 within their mating flange receiving openings l5 and I6 respectively contact the adjacent ends of the ring'locks l4 so as to provide a positive stop against rotation of the wheel in either direction relative to. its support. a

The links 3| and 33, joined at their common juncture 35, Fig. 5, provide a self-locking extensible coupling between the arms 28 and 29 by virtue of the resiliency ofthe ring 21; The ring 21 is fully expanded when the links 3| and 33 extend in opposite directions from the common juncture 35. When thelinks 3| and 33 extend from their common juncture 35 in the same direction, essentiallyas shown in Fig. 1,.the ring 21 is at its limit of contraction. In this position, the ring 21 iscontracted against it inherent resiliency and is under tension impelling its expansion. As a consequence, upon movement of the common juncture 35 one way or the other from the position of dead center at maximum contraction, the resiliency of the ring 21 tends to move the links 3| and 33 to their fully expanded position. Clockwise rotation of the link or lever 38 from dead center about-the common juncture 35 is limited by contact between the lever 30 and the inner periphery of the adjacent radially disposed ring lock l4. Thus, when the lever 3|] is moved slightly clockwise from the dead center position-the tension of the contracted resilient split ring 21 forces the lever 30 firmly against the inner periphery-cf the ring In the,

t ll m vin sa o mon ure o a p si-H.

tion oi dead center .withsaid links extending in the same direction therefrom, and being fully expansible upon pivotally moving said common juneturein one direction from said dead center,

andmeans for resiliently, locking said split ring. in the contracted position past dead center andv including a movement limiting stop for limiting the resiliently impelled pivotal movement of said,

osition,againsttheadjacentring 10cl -,l4,=there:- 10- ;cornmon juncture in theother direction from by assuring a, positive. 100k,betweenthewheel and its-W eel supp rt w en he l t are 7o et ne,-.. Obviousl swhenathelever 30 is m ved e -..the; unte eclockw e side of d d cen r, ex ans n of theirineizi is. permi ed un he-latten er ieroove i8, at .w ic pos t on; t .w ee1 ymay then, be readi y d m un ,ed.. o it whee1,-,sup p0rt-.-H.-.i

e herf ee ne disc osu e vel; endeu eiu i yements in a wheel mounting have been go seat, means for locking said wheel against out-- 'Ward axial movement relative to said wheel supp ovid d-.101: secur y in er o kinese ee a d, its wheel. upport .by means o .a s l ent pl t ring,wherein- ,the ring is retainedas an inSeparablepnit with the wheel to facilitateitsapplid ntal; deformat on a d-wh re d ivineilue a I providedib the r g, t o c ine w h mating receptacles provided .by the L wheel sup I. rt to p sit v ly ate re ve ro at n tween t w ee a ts w eel por -.5

I la m-.1: I I v I 1. In :a detachable. wheel mountin i the cornna io of a whe l. supportsaw eel ta hab e mounted to. ,saidqwheei sup ort from n outer.

said dead center.

3. In .a detachablewheel mounting, the combinationof a wheel support, a wheel detachably mounted to said wheel support from an outer '15 wheel receiving sidethereof, an expansible split ring mountedin a ring seat provided by the outer side-of said wheel, ringholding means secured.

to said wheel and adapted to hold said split ring on said wheel operatively adjacent said ring port and including a ring lock provided by said wheel supportand extended outward therefrom. within the inner periphery of said split ringand cation 11amnd alsov t t i; the ring frqln accihaving a ring engaging flange overhanging said split ring, said split ring being expansible to clear said ring engaging flange for freeing said wheel for outward axial movement, said split ring having an essentiallyradially inward extending arm on, each end thereof, a pivotal linkage for selectively expanding or contracting said split ring and comprising a short link and. a long link pivotally connectedat one end of each at a common pivotal juncture, the other end of each link being.

whgelirecqivingflside th ai er; .expansiblesplit ,.pivotally. connected to one of each of said arms,

r ng m unt n a r n -s t pr vi ed by the quter side ,of s-aidwheel, ringholdingmeans securedto I said wheel, and adapted to loosely, hold said split I ionsaidwhe l op ratiy lyad a nt midrins said. split ring being fully contracted against the resilience. thereof upon pivotally moving said.

common juncture to a position of dead center with said linkswextending in the same direction seat,; x neans for lockingsaid wheel ag-ainst out w I, therefrom, and being fullyv expansible upon pivward .axiallmovement, relative to said wheel supyp rt-end-.-.inc1 dine.a r n k p vi ed yi aidql wheel support and extended outWard-therefrom withil'lythe inner peripheryof said, split ringand ar-sa d.- si e. e a i flan e o r n said.. h el-1M2: ward; a ia .m remen @s d. r n olsiinse eens. ine dineen e ule pesed.

wheel receiving side thereof, an 'expansible'split 55 ring mounted in a ring seat provided by the outer, side: I ioffsaid wheel, ring holding rneans secured I to sai wheel. a d adapt to s id, split. ing. o kiw ed o rati el adjacenteid. fi s. eekmeans for locking said wheelagainst outward. ax i al rnov ement relative to said wheel support and includinga ring loclgprovided by saidwheel, nso tan e e de o ward there rom Wi ai ne s he of se s it r ee dhev n a ri engaging flange overhanging iase ii sp it. iin 'b in eim' b e to cl a id ringfengaging; flange for freeingsaid wheel for I o wa a ial m v m nt P vota i k leiireli. e pandin or n re ne s id s g Bi m rie e S1 vei il m neee eiei on e d oi et a o monpivotal J'uncture; the other end of each'link. being pivptellr, ,q eeectedi n o t nds said sp'1icg ring,. .sa i. c l, splitring being ful ly coir-, I

otally moving said common juncture in one direc tion from said dead center, and means for resiliently locking said split ring in the contracted I position past dead center and including a movehavi ee ri gaging flange overhanging saidjment limiting stop for limiting the resiliently imsplit jring said split r 1 n I exp n ibl et pelled pivotal movement of said common juncture in the other direction from said dead center.

4. In a detachable wheel mounting, the com- I II I II II bination of a wheel support, a wheel detachabi bracket means overlying aid sp1it ring adJ'acent mounted to said wheel supportfroin anouter wheel V y 7 receiving side thereof, an expansible split ring mounted in a ring seat provided by the outer side of said wheel, ring holding means secured to said wheel and adapted to hold said split ring on said wheel operatively adjacent said ring seat, means "for locking said Wheel against outward axial movement relative to said Wheel support and in'- eluding a ring loci: provided by said Wheel support and extended outward therefrom within the fio inner periphery of said split ring and having a ring engaging flange overhanging said split ring,

said split ring being expansible to clear said ring engaging flange for freeing said wheel for out. ward axial movement, said ring lock comprising ings, and means on said wheel to prevent rotation thereof relative to said wheel support and p including a plurality of driving lugs extending t'i kfln l l k i'o within said lug receiving openings, said driving lugs comprising inward radial extensions of said ring s,ea t,, sai d ring holding means including. a

pluralityof bracketsvselectively securedto said- 4 t seiw hinth inn r r phe s ids. t ee edtes i steiheir siiiseselihereg iiupo per,- ve spiignn nd n qm g Yin lie sai'd split ring adjacent the outer side thereof.

5'. In -a detachable wheel'mounting, the coin bination of a wheel support, a wheel detachably mounted to said wheel support from an outer wheel receiving side thereof, an annular ring seat provided by said wheel, an expansible split ring seated on the outer side of said ring seat andhaving' the inner circumferencethereo'f extended radially inward from said ring seat, means for locking said wheel against outward axial movement relative to said wheel support and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ring engaging flanges withinthe inner periphery of'said ring seat'an'd projected out Ward from said wheel support to'overhangthe inner circumference'of said split ring; said split ring being expansible to clear said ring engaging flange for freeing said wheel for outward axial' movement, means provided by said ring seat to I prevent relative rotational movement between .saidwheel and said wheel support and including :a plurality of radially extending driving lugs in-l terposed between and in driving engagement with :said plurality of circumferentially spacedring engaging flanges, said wheel having a movement limitingring retaining shoulder adjacent the out- 1 er periphery of said split ring when the latter is expanded for clearing said ring engaging flanges and a plurality of brackets secured to said driving lugs within the inner periphery of said split ring and extending radially outward adjacent and overlying the outer side of said split ring for retaining the latter as an inseparable unit I with said Wheel. 6. In a detachable wheel mounting, the combination of a wheel support, a wheel detachably mounted to said wheel support from an outer wheel receiving side :thereof, an annular ring seat provided by said wheel, an expansibl'e split ring seated on the outer side of said ring seat and having the inner circumference'thereof exe tended radially inward from said ring seat, means c for locking said wheel against outward axial movement relative to said wheel support and-in-,; cluding a plurality of circumferentially spaced ring engaging flanges within the inner periphery. of said ring seat and projected outward from said 1 wheel support to overhang the inner circumference of said split ring, said split ring being exa, pansible to clear said ring engaging flange for freeing said wheel for outward axial movement, means provided by said ring seat to prevent relative rotational movement between said wheel and said wheel support and including a plurality of radially extending driving lugs interposed be: tweenand in driving engagement withsaidplu;

rality of circumferentially spaced ring engaging flanges, said wheel having a;-movement limiting ring retaining shoulder adjacent theouter pe,--

riphery of said split ring when the latter is expanded for clearing said ring engaging flanges and a plurality of brackets secured to said driv- I ing lugs within the inner periphery of said split ring and extending radially outward adjacent and;-

ring seated on the outer side of said ring seat and having the inner cincumierencethereqfex tended radially inward from said'ring' seat;

and including"a plurality of circumferentially spaced ring engaging flanges within'the inner.-

5 zperiphery of' said' ringseat and projected out ward -from said Wheelsup-port to overhang the inner circumferenceof'saidsplit ring, said split a ring being expansibleto clear said ring engaging flange for'iifreein'g said wheel for outward IO axial mevemena mean provided by said ring seat' to'pr'event relative rotational movement between said wheel and said 'wheel support and in cludinga plurality of radially extending lugs interposed between and in driving engagelfi m'ent with "said' plurality oi circumferentially spaced ring e'nigaging 'flanges, said wheel gdiiririg engaging flanges, a plurality of brackets secured to said driving lugs within the inner peripheryof said split ring and extending radially out'ward"adja-cent and overlying the outer side of 's'aid'split ringfor' loosely holding the latter as g5ean inseparable unit with said wheel, a pivotal longlink'p'ivotally connected at one end of each at ac'o'mmon pivotal juncture, the other end of split ring said slplitring being fully contracted gq'ae'each link-being connected to one end of saiddead center' with said 'links extending in the said' dead center."

5=asamedirection-therefrom and being fully expansib'le iipon pivotally moving said common juncture in one direction fromsaid dead center, and means or resiliently -locki'ngsaid split ring in the contracted lpositi'on past dead center and in-- oui-cludinlg' a movement limiting 'stop-ior limiting the resiliently impelled pivotal movementof said" common juncture in the other direction from 8'; In a WheeI mounting wherein a wheel is Y detachably" mountablewitha wheel suppdrt' therefor, the combination opt-an: annularly disposed rin seatprovided by outer side-of said wheelforsupportinganexpansime split ring, a

plurality of radial inwardly extendingdriving"' v olug's' provided-by said seat, an expansible split ring seated on said ringseat, an annularl'y disposed'movement limiting ring retaining shoulder 'provided by said wheel and adjacent the" outerperiphery of "said split ring when the latter? v 55 isjexpanded; and a'plurality of brackets secured tojsaid driving lugswithin the inner periphery of said split rin and'extending radially outward adjacent and overlying the outer side of said split ring for retaining the latter as an inseparagb' ble unit of ,said wheel.

9. In a wheel mountin wherein a wheel is detachably jmountable with a wheel support pose'dring seat provided .by' an outer side of said I saidgdriving mgs for. loosely holding said split -"g5*tvh eel for-supporting an exp'ansible split ring, a

plurality of radial. inwardly extending driving lugs provided"by said ring seat, a split ring". seated o'n'jsaid ring seat and means provided by Tin-g1 as an inseparable unit therewith on said" ring se'at and including a plurality of brackets,

secured to saiddrivin'g lugs within'the inner peripheryofsaid splitf'rin'g and extending radiallyj putward 'to-joverlietheouter side thereof,

detachably mountable with a wheel support therefor, the combination of an annularly disposed ring seat provided by an outer side of said Wheel for supporting an expansible split ring, a plurality of radial inwardly extending driving lugs provided by said ring seat, a split ring seated on said ring seat, means provided by said driving lugs for loosely holding said split ring as an inseparable unit therewith on said ring seat and including a plurality of brackets secured to said driving lugs within the inner periphery of said split ring and extending radially outward to overlie the outer side thereof, said split ring having an essentially radially inward extending arm adjacent each end thereof, a, pivotal linkage for selectively expanding or contracting said split ring and comprising a short link and a long link pivotally connected at one end of each at a common pivotal juncture, the outer end of each link being pivotally connected to one of each of said arms, said split ring being fully contracted against the resiliency thereof upon pivotally moving said common juncture to a position of dead center with said links extending in the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 852,998 Bridgers May 7, 1907 1,139,151 Arthur May 11, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 650,941 France Oct. 2, 1928 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,513,032 June 27, 1950 JAMES C. LEWIS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 9, line 19, for the word outer read other;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of October, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oom/mz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

